Gap retaining member and laminated leaf spring provided with same

Abstract

A gap retaining member is provided between leaf springs and has a surface along a curved outer surface of a center portion of an adjacent leaf spring.

1 . A gap retaining member provided between leaf springs comprising:
 a surface along a curved outer surface of a center portion of an adjacent leaf spring of the leaf springs.   
     
     
         2 . The gap retaining member as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the gap retaining member is adjacent to a lower surface of the leaf spring, and   wherein the gap retaining member has an upper surface having a surface along the lower surface of the leaf spring.   
     
     
         3 . The gap retaining member as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the gap retaining member is adjacent to an upper surface of the leaf spring, and   wherein the gap retaining member has a lower surface having a surface along the upper surface of the leaf spring.   
     
     
         4 . The gap retaining member as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the gap retaining member comprises a first gap retaining member and a second gap retaining member,   wherein the first gap retaining member is adjacent to a lower surface of the leaf spring,   wherein the first gap retaining member has an upper surface having a surface along the lower surface of the leaf spring,   wherein the second gap retaining member is adjacent to an upper surface of the leaf spring, and   wherein the second gap retaining member has a lower surface having a surface along the upper surface of the leaf spring.   
     
     
         5 . The gap retaining member as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the gap retaining member is adjacent to an upper surface of a first leaf spring of the leaf springs,   wherein the gap retaining member has a lower surface having a surface along the upper surface of the first leaf spring,   wherein the gap retaining member is adjacent to a lower surface of a second leaf spring of the leaf springs, and   wherein the gap retaining member has an upper surface having a surface along the lower surface of the second leaf spring.   
     
     
         6 . A gap retaining member provided between leaf springs comprising:
 a surface having a portion with a curvature equal to a curvature of a center portion of an outer surface of an adjacent leaf spring of the leaf springs or a curvature larger than a flat surface and smaller than the outer surface, and being opposed to the outer surface.   
     
     
         7 . A gap retaining member provided between leaf springs comprising:
 a surface having a portion away from and opposed to an outer surface of an adjacent leaf spring of the leaf springs.   
     
     
         8 . The gap retaining member as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the gap retaining member is a spacer or a washer.   
     
     
         9 . A laminated leaf spring comprising:
 leaf springs; and   a gap retaining member as claimed in  claim 1  provided between the leaf springs.